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Levitating pumpkins! Halloween superconductor science

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What happens when you put a cooled superconductor, in this case, a YBa2Cu3O7 ceramic disk, into a tiny pumpkin and then place them both onto some neodymium magnets? Levitating pumpkin!

In this Ri Channel video, superconductivity possesses a pumpkin with the help of some liquid nitrogen and a specially built magnetic track. The introduction to a DIY experiment from Education.com:

Superconductors are materials that conduct electric current with no resistance. Electrical resistance is the property of a material to oppose current passing through and is found in nearly everything from light bulb filaments to your own body. Superconductivity occurs at extremely low temperatures and induces, or creates, a strong magnetic field. The current that flows at the surface of the superconducting material creates these magnetic fields. Inside the superconductor, the magnetic fields are canceled out, but outside they are strong and can levitate a magnet.

levitation
Read more about the phenomenon: A Closer Look at Quantum Magnetic Levitation and the Meissner effect.

Watch more about the phenomenon: Levitating Superconductor on a MΓΆbius strip and Quantum Levitation: A mind-blowing demonstration and explanation. Bonus: More liquid nitrogen and more levitation vids.

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